Which patient demographic is most likely to show hyper-resonant sounds upon lung percussion?

Hyper-resonant sounds upon lung percussion are typically associated with conditions that result in increased air in the thoracic cavity. While there can be variations based on individual circumstances, geriatric patients are more likely to present with conditions such as emphysema or other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can lead to hyper-resonance due to air trapping.

In the case of young adults, while they can experience various lung issues, the prevalence of hyper-resonant auscultatory findings typically aligns more with chronic conditions that may be more prevalent in older populations.

Patients with lung cancer can exhibit a range of percussion note characteristics depending on the type and location of the tumor. If a tumor causes pleural effusion or atelectasis, it may not present with hyper-resonance.

Patients with pneumonia generally show dullness on percussion due to fluid or consolidation of lung tissue, which stands in contrast to the hyper-resonance associated with increased air.

Therefore, the demographic of geriatric patients aligns best with the potential for hyper-resonant lung sounds, given their higher likelihood of underlying conditions that enable increased air in the lungs.